Grapevine: Jag Set to Join Three-Way Chase for Button

Jenson Button will be the target of a three-way tug-of-war for his services after Jaguar boss Niki Lauda threw his hat into the ring in the chase to land the Briton for next season.

Lauda said that he was willing to join Renault - where is currently on loan - and Button's current contract holders Williams in the fight to land the 22-year-old.

Button has regained his form after a disappointing 2001 season driving for Benetton and Lauda confirmed that the Briton is on his wanted list next year. Button completes the second of his two-year loan deal with Renault this season and Jaguar are ready to offer him a deal worth around £3 million a year.

"I like the look of Button and Sauber's Nick Heidfeld," Lauda told Autocar magazine. "But we are nowhere near worrying about what we will do next year."

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has already expressed his interest in extending Button's stay beyond the current campaign after branding him a "different Jenson" this year.

Sir Frank Williams, who retains an option on Button following his debut year with the team in 2000, has insisted he will not make a decision on the future of the youngster until later in the year.

But Button's path back to the Grove-based Williams team is currently blocked by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, who are both perfoming well this season.